Perhaps one of the most essential but often overlooked aspects of car maintenance is the proper care of alloy wheels. The majority of modern cars in use today have metal alloys as wheels since they are lighter but durable enough to keep up with your car’s performance. However, neglecting them can lead to costly repairs or even a total replacement. If you want to keep your alloy wheels in tip-top shape, better do the following steps in preserving and maintaining them.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Through prolonged use, dirt can build up on your alloys and affect their appearance. Some of those dust particles could even contain grit, which could scratch your alloys. Road salts, on the other hand, have a tendency to corrode the wheels over time. To protect your alloys from these harmful substances, you need to wash them with soapy water at least once a week just to rinse off the dirt and grit. Alloy wheel cleaners work great to keep your wheels looking clean at all times. Some even use a special type of wheel wax to give it an extra sheen.
Changing the brake pads regularly is also a great way to reduce brake dust from accumulating on your wheels. You can also put brake dust shields to deflect dust from the alloys, keeping them from losing their lustre.
Polishing Alloy Wheels
When it comes to aesthetic appeal, having a shiny set of alloy wheels can make any vehicle look strikingly brilliant. The problem is, alloy wheels tend to lose their shine pretty quickly compared to their chrome and steel counterparts. Since alloy wheels can be a little delicate, you need to clean them regularly and make sure you also polish them often.
After washing and drying your wheels thoroughly, apply a liberal amount of alloy wheel brightener and cleaner on its surface. Brighteners are designed to brighten up the colour of your wheels as well as remove traces of oxidation. Now that you’ve brightened your wheels, it’s time for the actual polishing.
Alloy wheel polish comes in a variety of choices that all depends on your preference. Apply a generous amount of polish to an old clean rag or cloth and rub it into the rims gently but thoroughly. You can also use a machine polishing buffer for better results. Remember to perform thick strokes going in the same direction.
Fixing Damaged Alloys
Driving carefully is a good practice to keep your alloy wheels from being worn out. However, no matter how careful you are, your wheels will always be susceptible to wear and tear. If there are any cosmetic faults, you can easily fix them by sanding down the damaged area and repainting it.
Dealing with alloy wheel kerb scuffs and scratches is easy enough with the help of a professional wheel refurbishment specialist. They can restore your wheels to their original condition in less than 2 hours with minimal cost.
Conclusion
When it comes to your car’s overall appearances, a shiny and clean set of alloy wheels is all you need to make your car look more magnificent. That’s why it’s great to know how to clean and maintain alloy wheels so you can perform them on your own. However, if your alloy wheels need a lot more work than just cleaning or polishing, you need to call a professional.
Wicked Rims is a professional wheel refurbishment company in Stevenage offering a full range of services at competitive rates. Our advanced alloy wheel refurbishment technique involves a ten-stage process to bring out the splendour of your wheels. Give us a call to request a service!